In Indianapolis, Stephen Holder reports the Colts could fire coach Chuck Pagano "as early as Monday, when Pagano said he is scheduled to meet" with team Owner Jim Irsay "to discuss his future." Pagano "does not have a contract beyond this season," which concluded yesterday with a win over the Titans. Irsay talks often "about his philosophy of faith, family then football," but that "doesn’t appear as if it will stand in the way of making a difficult decision to dismiss Pagano in the coming days." There "are concerns" from team Irsay about Pagano’s "ability to lead the Colts to a championship, but make no mistake: The strained relationship between Pagano and the club is a major factor, too" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/4). Also in Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel writes Irsay "started this mess years ago by misreading his new hires after his franchise reboot" in early '12. He thought Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson "could work together" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/4). NBC's Mike Florio reported the "real question ... is what happens" with Grigson, as it is "believed that his fate will be determined by who the next head coach is." Florio: "If the next head coach wants to control the football operations, Grigson may be out" ("FNIA," NBC, 1/3).
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: In Oakland, Marcus Thompson II wrote Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie "deserves some credit" for the team's improvement this season, which saw a 7-9 finish after a 3-13 record in '14. More than that, McKenzie "deserves a round of applause from the same fan base ready to hang him in effigy." He has "acquitted himself quite nicely" (OAKLANDTRIBUNE.com, 1/2). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote at a time when the Jets are "going in the right direction again" because of GM Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles, fans have to give Owner Woody Johnson "his proper credit, even though a year ago there was the notion that Johnson would never get anything right with the Jets ever again" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/3).
SETTING THE PRECEDENT: CSNNE.com's Tom Curran wrote there "won’t ever be a run of dominance in the NFL like the one" Patriots coach Bill Belichick has presided over since '01 because nobody will "have the stomach to allow a head coach to implement a program that is as taxing, focused, ruthless, unapologetic, dictatorial, unsentimental and efficient" as Belichick's. No owner, group of players or media contingent will be able to "countenance an approach like Belichick’s from a coach who hasn’t done what Belichick’s done." Not only has "nobody done what he’s done, nobody will ever get the same chance he did" (CSNNE.com, 1/2).
